MasterChef Australia has solidified itself as one of Australia’s most iconic reality TV series, and in an age of streaming services dominating the television space, innovation has never been more critical for broadcasters.
While MasterChef is known for producing talented contestants that go on to achieve success in the culinary world, it has also become renowned for its iconic guest appearances.
This was proven again this year after Meghan Markle’s guest judge appearance on Sunday, July 26, produced one of the highest-rated Sunday episodes of the 2026 season, despite some viewers threatening to boycott.
With a Total TV National Reach of 1.16 million and a Total TV National Average Audience of 738,000, Markle’s appearance subverted viewers’ expectations, with many fans pleasantly surprised by how “kind, interested, intelligent and knowledgeable” she was during the show. She is the Duchess of Sussex after all!
However, while Markle’s appearance produced great ratings for Channel 10, the broadcaster confirmed to WHO that it wasn’t the highest episode of the season so far, revealing that it takes more than a powerful guest to break through the damage that streaming services have done to broadcast television.
“We’re delighted that so many Australians tuned in to Sunday’s episode,” a Network 10 spokesperson said. “Which became the season’s highest-rating Sunday and the third highest-rating episode overall, with those numbers expected to continue growing as audiences catch up on 10 Streaming.”
What it takes to produce a ‘genuine television event’
Network 10 revealed that while an iconic guest judge – and an international one for that matter – can create great audience engagement, it isn’t the only pull factor for viewers.
“Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, created a genuine television event, and her appearance generated enormous interest,” a Network 10 spokesperson said. “But it’s also a reflection of the incredible momentum MasterChef Australia has built throughout the season.
“Audiences have fallen in love with our contestants and are genuinely invested in their journeys. With the competition now down to our Top 3 and the Grand Finale on Sunday, 9 August, we’re expecting another unforgettable week in the MasterChef kitchen.”
What keeps bringing audiences back?
The introduction of food influencers and social media stars last year also sparked backlash from viewers, similar to Markle’s appearance, before the episode even aired.
However, the ratings result also had similarities as the comedy troupe Sooshi Mango – who kicked off ‘Viral Week’ – raked in the highest ratings for the season with a nonna-themed mystery box challenge.
MasterChef judge Andy Allen spoke to WHO about the “massive gamble” of bringing in this guest judge and the fears they had around whether fans would question the guests’ relevance to the food world.
“Last year, we had Sushi Mango come on and it was a real it was a massive gamble for us because at that time, they didn’t have their sandwich shop and they weren’t known for loving food,” he said. “It was our highest-rated show of the whole season.”
However, if Channel 10 has learned anything from MasterChef Australia’s 17-year-long run, it’s not just the power of an iconic guest judge, but the understanding to keep mixing up the format for audiences to entertained and intrigued.
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